UV, SWU fight for pivotal 2-1 lead in Cesafi hoop finals

THE SOUTHWESTERN University Cobras and the University of the Visayas Green Lancers go at it once again as each team aims to gain some headway in their pursuit for the coveted crown in Game Three of the best-of-five Finals in the 12th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) men’s basketball tournament at what is expected to be a rocking Cebu Coliseum.

In what is turning out to clearly a series for the ages, the nine-time champion UV avoided what would have a catastrophic 0-2 hole by climbing out from a 10-point fourth period deficit to defeat SWU in Game Two, 81-79. The Cobras drew first blood in Game One, 77-72.

With the Cobras’ big men Justin Aboude and Ben Mbala down for the count because of foul issues, UV took full control down the stretch with Rookie of the Year and league MVP Wowie Escosio finally breaking out of his slumber to score the go-ahead basket before ending up with 16 points.

However, the cold-blooded assassin that sliced SWU’s heart out was left-handed gunner John Abad, who scored 17 points including the calm game-tying three-pointer that he launched that tied the game at 78-all, just seconds after Monbert Arong gave the Cobras the lead with a trey of his own.

Another guard Eman Calo was also in his element after torching SWU’s porous defense to the tune of 19 markers.

Still, last year’s runners-up SWU has high hopes for today with the series being whittled down to a best-of-three.

Arong will be expected once again to come up big after scoring 28 points in Game Two. However, he sorely needs bigger numbers from his aforementioned Cameroonian mates along with steady production from veterans Bon Guillena, Joseph Nalos, Junrey Ortuyo and Bernie Bregondo. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio